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IMPORTANT: Messages from osprey experts

Rob Bierregaard July 1, 2015 at 7:24 am
I haven’t seen the little guy yet this morning, but I would be very surprised if he survived the night. That sure was tough to watch yesterday, but that whole process is as much a part of the essence of being an Osprey as is eating a fish. It’s part of the life of Ospreys that was rarely seen before we started putting cameras in nests. As hard as it is, we should not label the behavior as mean or cruel. Being mean or cruel implies that there is intent to do harm just for harm’s sake. Those young were responding to a set of stimuli (very little food being delivered to the nest and the presence of a very small young) in a way that evolution has hard-wired into them. It helps ensure their survival. Nature is not cruel. It is harsh, unforgiving, and often random (had the little guy been born 1st, he would have been just as aggressive as was his sibling), but not cruel or mean.

Paul Henry ospreyzone July 1, 2015 at 8:17 am
Thanks Rob for bringing your knowledge and experience to help us all gain perspective here. We are all saddened by the events that unfolded before our eyes and it’s only natural for all of us to feel and express our emotions appropriately. There have been many issues pertaining to intervention which have been discussed amongst us all. There is no doubt in my mind that the right decision was made, to let nature take it’s course. By the way, that doesn’t equate to heartless, on the contrary, nobody feels worse about this then the apparent decision makers. I say apparent, because when all was said and done, and all the issues were properly weighed, there really weren’t any other options. It was clearly pointed out, by experts, that intervening at this stage could have spooked the whole nest to the point of losing all the young. If the little one was saved, and nursed back to health, what kind of a life would it have had, perhaps caged up in a zoo. I remember when I was younger I saw a golden eagle in captivity, caged behind a wire mesh. I could practically see it’s tears. As far as placing the little one in another nest, such a low probability of success would never have justified the possibility of spooking the nest. There’s a piece of me, however heavy hearted, that believes that perhaps it is better to be born free and die free. We mourn for the little one as we marvel at the wonders of nature.

Reprinted with the permission of John W. Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Hello Paul,

Thanks for your query, and you have my admiration for persevering. We know very well how tough your job is, including dealing with an anxious public.

Our policy with our Bird Cams project is essentially “just say no” to pleas for interference. The behavior you are witnessing – while seemingly cruel and heartless to us – is natural for many kinds of birds, especially those that feed on variable, unpredictable food supplies. The little nestling does have a chance to survive, but if it does not then that result was “meant to be” by the nature of Osprey breeding strategy. The wonderful things about these nest cameras also sometimes yield the difficult things for us to watch. As you might know, we actually post a “siblicide alert” on some of our cams where we suspect the possibility exists.

I’m copying your note to Charles Eldermire, project leader for our Bird Cams. He may have some additional comments, and he would be the one to ask if we might be able to use your stored files for biological analysis.

It’s also important to acknowledge that intervening can also cause problems of its own—depending on the ages of the birds in the nest, disturbing them can trigger an early fledge. We have restricted the scenarios in which we would even consider intervening to injuries or dangers that are explicitly human-derived. For example, 3 or 4 years ago we were alerted by viewers that one of the osprey chicks at the Hellgate Osprey nest was entangled in monofilament line. We consulted with our partners there (wildlife biologists, raptor researchers, raptor rehabbers) to determine if the monofilament was an issue, and if intervening was both likely to solve the issue AND not have bad effects on the other nestlings. In the end, a quick trip to the nest was scheduled via a bucket truck, the monofilament was removed, and the nestlings all eventually fledged. In that case, all of the permits were already in hand to be studying the ospreys, and we had already discussed how to approach issues in the nest.

I’ve been to your site—great cam! And I noticed the runt in the nest. This is just normal Osprey reproduction. It happens all the time and you should not intervene. It’s tough to watch, but it’s how nature works. Ospreys almost always lay 3 eggs and on average fledge between 1 and 1.5 young each year. They stagger the hatch so there is a spread of ages in the young. That way, if food is short, the first-hatched (and therefore largest) will get enough food to survive while the smaller nest mates do not. If all three young were the same size and there was only enough food for 1 young, none of the young would get enough food and they would all die. If there’s lots of food, the smallest will eventually get fed and can survive. These nest cams can show some gut-wrenching scenes. The most infamous perhaps was one of the very first Osprey cams (on Long Island somewhere), where the smallest young died. One of the adults carried it out of the nest and after several minutes flew back into the nest and fed it to the other young. Waste-not-want-not at its goriest. At Hog Island up in Maine just last week a Bald Eagle came in and took the young out of the nest. Last year at another nest, cameras documented a Great-horned Owl taking young Ospreys out of a nest in NJ or MD. All of these things have been going on for millions of years and Ospreys are doing fine.

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So glad to see lil one getting fed at each feeding so far…he managed to be in the right place at the right time…hope it continues…It’s so obvious he is so much smaller than the other 2 and the way those 2 are growing I cannot see him catching up to them. Keep it up lil guy and get your fair share!! 🙂

I’m really encouraged at the things I’m seeing with the baby – first, against all odds, he gets out from under his siblings wings yet again and makes his way to the front of the line
next, he actually initiated a pecking of #2, just because he could – his brother seemed stunned. Next, when dad was feeding the brother, he actually TOOK the food out
of his siblings mouth!. This guy is firing on all cylinders.

Hi maryann, George eats the head before bringing the fish to the nest. However, sometimes it’s a whole fish, flapping around the nest. That’s sad to watch. What an awful way to leave this world if you’re a fish.

9:17:12 geo flies back w/ fish at right front corner … alarms … geo eats some of the fish … looks around … eats … looks around … then at 9:22 begins to feed gra who’s sitting over the chicks on the nest bowl …
9:24 gra backs up off chicks to stand in front of camera facing to the right … geo & gra alarm session at overhead passerby (shadow skims over nest) … then more alarming by geo & gra …
9:25:31 after things quiet down, gra makes her way over to geo … tries to take the fish, but geo isn’t readily giving it up or he loses his balance as she tries to take the fish and knocks into him before releasing it to gra at 8:26:26 , then gra feeds the chicks again while geo stands on the left front of the nest … while gra is feeding them, geo cleans off his beak and housekeeps nearly decapitating chick #1 as he moves a stick!!! (it’s a haha for those who don’t know the difference)
9:28:19 geo up to perch & Gra continues to feed the chicks … ALL of the chicks again … #3 has fallen over and stays down when Gra tried to give it a scrap when cleaning around the nest bowl … then gra continues to feed #1, w/ #2 & #3, who now has its head up, watch, then #2 moves in to be fed & #3 doesn’t seem to be hungry, which is a good thing since it is now at the back of the pack … and then at 9:32 the video skips back to 9:23:40 and we get to see it all over again from when Gracie gets up off the nest bowl before making her way over to George to take the fish from him … before the video catches up w/ itself and continues on (or at least up until 9:33:30 when gra after feeding the chicks cleans the nest bowl when I stopped to post).

10:12 am EST OK I went back to 8:00 am to watch the wrestling match that someone mentioned. I swear it looked like the little one was trying to join in this time. I know it’s too early to start submitting names, but I’ve started referring to them as Eenie, Meanie and Mighty Moe. The instigator is Meanie and #2 is just as bad, but that little one has sooo much heart. To me he’s Mighty.

CaroIV glad you pointed out to new viewers to take some time and watch and review from last year. I too recommended that there are plenty of videos out there now on YouTube or previous comments. I really hope some do take advantage of all the info and highlights. We did not have all this last season at first and so many people worked hard to make this site what it is today. It keeps getting better and better thanks to Paul, Aidan,and Landlords. I had not had my coffee yet and said Happy Wednesday and its only Tuesday talking about needing that 1st cup of coffee in the morning. Yikes its and addiction like watching our birds!

I agree, Jessica V. This little guy is feisty!! He always tries to get himself up in front of the feeding line. lol I was watching really carefully at the 1:03pm feeding and it seems that some of the pieces of fish that are given to him are just too big for his little beak. I think that’s the issue; he may not be getting as much food because of it. Hopefully he stays strong!! Praying for the little guy. 🙂

Best feeding yet for all 3 babies. 8:55ish. The little guy his fare share. I am still amazed at the fighting between the two older babies. 2-3 times a day they go at it. Glad they do not join forces and attack the little guy. I assume the great food supply this year is the reason.

9:00 am feeding – so far, #3 made his way to front for food – #2 had a slow start, so the little guy had an initial advantage. Looks like he’s gotton a few good bites so far,
and feeding had just started. I tell you, this little guy has a lot of heart.

The male usually eats the head to ensure that the fish is dead and won’t be flopping around in the nest and possibly hurt one of the chicks. Also, the head does not have the tender flesh that is easy for the chicks to eat.

Can we PLEASE stop calling the little guy Pee Wee. As a viewer from the start last year this guy doesn’t even come close to being called Pee Wee. Pee Wee didn’t have a shot from the moment he was born due to the fact that George was not supplying enough fish. He is holding his own and doing fine. Matter of fact this little guy is a fighter.

…looks like the ‘baby gates’ are being installed & reinforced. George has brought in several loads of reeds, seaweed, & some HUGE branches, which have fortunately missed klonking Gracie or the babes! Gracie’s doing her part in the rearranging, & the nest seems sturdier & the sides higher, than before (awesome, as the chicks have really begun to travel up & out, & away from the ‘egg bowl’, quite regularly, now. It’s been a busy morning, with 2 feedings already (it’s only just after 7 am now!), lil one seems to be very well fed (as are her/his siblings), & content…sweet peace (for US all…hahaha!). Looooove…
…another glorious day, here on the Island.

…oops! I scrolled back, & s’pose I was being overly optimistic, thinking I’d seen 2 feedings, this morning. Well, the babes, one & all, did seem to fill their bellies, with the fish that Dad brought in, early. Gracie enjoyed her ‘alone time’ with George, sharing the leftovers that he so generously brought back to the nest, once the chicks were sleeping.

I guess watching on rewind has some advantages. I get to watch feedings in full before I jump in with comments. I understand people get anxious, but seeing story in total helps with forming my opinions. Perhaps we all need to take a cue from MRS. WALTER’S CLASS and prepare ourselves for what can happen. People forget, Trey IS much smaller (and THREE days younger than 2) and can’t compete outright. Plus, he doesn’t need the volume of food his sibs can consume.His coping strategies seem to be working so far, and he IS eating.

For new viewers, who didn’t watch last year, please take the time to watch last year’s highlight videos.All very interesting and informative especially The Rescue, and The Summer of 2015 by GinaM. There are also the many pages of previous comments. You can see them listed above the Leave a Comment box (1-34 and previous, which is an additional 34 or so). A lot to go thru, but skimming them might prove helpful. You might understand our reluctance to a new Peewee. In any case, we all have different nicknames for the chicks, which may even change several times before they are officially named.
In addition, there are the different pages of this site.Along the top of page are sub pages listed which may also interest you, like the origins of this nest and site.

And a shout out to MRS. WALTERS for teaching a valuable lesson and to her CLASS for being interested in nature. Hope you guys keep up the watching over the summer and grow with the chicks as they go on in their life’s journey.

Yesterday Rob Bierregard was on explore.org with a live chat..He answered questions sent in to him on Ospreys. Something that was interesting is that Ospreys really don’t mate for life its the NEST they go back to for life. If the mate does not show up they will take on another. Have been away and thought Chick 3 would not be alive when I came back. This year is very different then last. This chick, I am hoping may have a chance. Last year they beat up on peewee and so happy to see they are leaving him alone..Nature in reality is sometime difficult to watch. Love our family and truly hoping chick 3 makes it, as we all do.

6-14-16 good morning everyone
At around 6:05 am estimating this morning I woke up to George feeding Gracie on the nest. It’s a little windy out there Gracie kept babies all tucked up under her. George fed her and she got her fill for the moment. Now we just need George to bring in another fish to Gracie so she can feed all the babies.. I have no doubt in my mind he will ,he has been such a good fisherman and keeping the fish supply going. Happy Wednesday. ?

4:56amEDT 6/14 George starts the day…Hands over a fish and Gracie gets down to it. The chicks look patchy, so some first feathers pushing through About 5:06, George brought in a clump of grasses and then had to stand in the way. Gracie had been trying very hard to plug a too big piece of fish in to Trey.He was grabbing but it just didn’t fit! I did see him eat something other than that piece. Uno and Dos didn’t seem too interested. Back to bed for awhile.C

George was in and out and in with his fish tail. He spent some time feeding Gracie and just hanging out. Peaceful morning.
Gina M….Just saw your comment about the aerial battle on the 10th.( Must have missed it previously.) One of these days, I’m going to have to ride out there and see if I can find the nest. I work fairly close, but don’t live out there. It must have been a sight to watch!!!! Their aerial maneuvers are so breathtaking!

9:10pm Thanks for the reminder, Rjoneal. about the dots, but I’m gonna need two pair of my specs(on together) or get a bigger screen to see them !!!! I did look. Digging for another pair of glasses….for tomorrow a.m.

George caught another fish the earlier part of this evening. I forget the time. The two big ones were eating a lot, and I felt bad for the baby. However, eventually they passed out and then she concentrated on feeding the little fella. That was a good sight. They all went to sleep — looking like they drank too much. Too funny. Then, around 8:00 p.m. George flew in with the last fish of the day. They are still too full to eat!!

Occasionally I have been checking back in hoping to see if the tiniest one is being fed and cared for. Gracie seems to be really trying her best, Thank God. Why doesn’t George help feed? Guess that is not the way with the osprey. The tiniest one just might make it providing the other two keep fighting each other and don’t turn on it. Pee Wee was so abused last year by the two older ones.

Rob Bierregaard
Academy of Natural Sciences
Drexel University
Did a live chat on another website and he mentioned the nest on Norfolk our birds George and Gracie. They were asking him what some unusual behaviors or things that surprised him that he has seen at an osprey nest ? He mentioned the Northfolk nest 1x they had babies and noticed the male would bring in a whole fish last season with head on which is unusual and then he would get in line and the female would feed the babies and then him and that was quite unusual. This was something they never seen before.

CarolV: This is in reply asking if anyone knows how to tell chick #1 and chick #2 apart (chick #3 obviously needs no description [at this time, since I am remaining cautiously optimistic that it will overcome the odds]):

Looking at the back of their heads is no longer practical or applicable as the chicks are changing (never mind the injuries and bruising sustained from their pecking bouts). The chicks gradually change from light brown to dark brown except for the middle of their backs. In addition to the slight size difference, the light strip down the back of chick #1 is narrower and straighter than chick #2’s, plus the strip on chick #2’s back flares out at its back end. In addition, still visible at this time, is the dark strip on the top of their heads which is wider and darker in chick #2. (BTW, the chicks did hatch in the order in which the eggs were laid.)

“Chick Development:
… The buff-colored plumage that the chicks were born with will be replaced with a dense, wooly down when they are about 10-12 days old. Osprey expert Alan Poole calls the wooly period their “reptilian stage,” when “they are black, scaly, and often crouch at danger, reminiscent of their reptilian ancestors.” This second down covering will last another 10-15 days. …
At about 2 weeks old, feathers will begin to replace the down. According to Poole, “First to appear are rusty-golden pinfeathers on the head and neck. Darker body feathers follow slightly later, and primaries, secondaries and rectrices (outer feathers of the wing and tail) emerge at about 20-25 days.” When the chicks are about 30 days old, their growth will begin to slow and they will already be at about 70-80% their full-grown body weight.” from: http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/osprey_cam_blog/archives/2004/06/01/index.html

Such a great feeding day. George is a great provider of fish. The supply seems much better than last year as the fish are much bigger and plentiful. The little one fed well tonight around 5. They have all been eating to exhaustion.

My third grade class and I have been watching Gracie and George this season. We love them! We were so sad to see the new baby not getting as much food, but we were prepared through our research that this may happen. I came on tonight after work to check in on the new family and report back to the children if it was safe to watch from home (in case the babies didn’t fare well). So I was so happy that the baby was able to turn around tonight at 5:52 pm and is now being fed some delicious fish! The ‘lil guy has gotten a bunch good mouthfuls in and even some alone time for about 2 minutes to eat towards the end of feeding time. Can’t wait to check back in on them later.

Ms Walter’s class welcome to our osprey family so glad you are watching.
It is so nice to know you are teaching and learning about our Ospreys. I would like to let you know many of our devoted Osprey zone viewers have videos on YouTube out there that you can show the class that are adorable.
You can also go back in previous comments and you will see lots of videos made there as well, this year we are able to post videos.
Happy Wednesday ?

I watched with my PreK class through August last year and my PreK class,is watching this year. My students are 4. We watched the SWFEC this past season. They have learned how difficult it is for birds of prey to survive. We have discussed the good and the bad, including the rescue of the chick at the nest here last July and E8 this past year, but also the human cruelty at the Jamaica Bay nest. My 4 year olds understand. They have stated, “Nature is never cruel, but humans can be.” This is a phenomenal teaching and learning experience that my r year olds appreciate.

I have to say pee wee II has tried its best to get in there to make sure to get some food. 5pm feeding he was able to get some. Gracie has been making an extra effort also. Sometimes not so easy but she has been doing so good. Haven’t seen near the aggression as last years chicks. It may have a good chance if it would just hurry up and get bigger. 🙂

It looks to me that #3 is being deliberately ignored and is giving up. He started out this feeding in front but the taller ones just fed right over him. Now he is turned around and making no effort to feed. It is cruel but my guess is that Gracie and George know that life will be tough outside the nest and they aren’t going to waste their energy on a weak one that probably won’t survive in the real world. It is still hard to watch..

4;40 ish feeding little one front and center mouth open and not a bit. He wasn’t pecked at or beaten or pushed aside he was just the shortest and passed over then he turned around faced the wrong way too tired I guess to hold his head up

Again the 3rd chick did not get any food…I don’t think I will watch anymore nests with 3 chicks…it’s too hard to watch..he is being completely ignored by Gracie in this last feeding and has no crop…..I don’t think he is going to make it…he looks weak and is much smaller than the others…this is the part of nature I hate as a human. it’s so cruel….so sad..:(

Even when the little guy manages to get up in front of the other two, he just doesn’t get fed. So far in this last feeding at approx. 4:30 pm, I don’t think he has gotten anything. What does a chick need to do to get fed around here?! LOL!!

This is the saddest and cruelest display of nature. There is plenty of fish being brought to the nest. Even when little chick is right in front of her, Gracie doesn’t include him in feeding like the others. What causes this behavior?

It just doesn’t matter where this poor little chick gets a seat for the meal Gracie just doesn’t make an effort to feed her last hatched !! So sad to see this little one sitting there holding its beak open and Mom just passes it by!! 🙁

Hi all, this is my first osprey nest, is the rough housing of the 2 bigger chicks normal? They are trampling the little one with no regard & Mom & Dad seem to be ignoring what their last born chick is going thru.

And, while I’m now thinking about it, that’s fish blood on Gracie’s chest, too. Just want to point that out before people get all hysterical and start posting that Gracie was in a vicious fight and she’s hemorrhaging which then becomes that Gracie is dying that then becomes that she died. I find it amazing what some people “observe” and then post as having happened. I wonder if some people post comments stating what they though they saw (it’s probably a good idea to go back and verify said “observation” before posting it as fact), or if they just want to get people riled up or stir up controversy for the sake of riling up people or stirring up controversy.

Gina W: So, to try to understand what you mean, let me put it in another context. If you had an infant and the infant died, and then you had another child, you would have no problem naming the new child the same name as the deceased child? (I realize these are “only birds”, but do you see what I mean?)

Sometimes lil one follows dad if he’s in the nest. Gracie does feed him, saw it several times yesterday. I think he’s doing prety good for being much smaller than the other 2. Let them fight amongst themselves and leave peewee 2 alone.

George the Awkward Architect strikes again… “Hey Gracie, I think I will move big sticks around on the windiest day when you are trying to feed the chicks- OK??”
Rocky is doing great. He is eating on his own schedule, lays low when his brothers are beating each other up and looks straight at the camera when he waits his turn to be fed as if to tell us- “don’t worry- I’ll eat after my two goofball siblings are done.”

It looks like the 2 older chicks are really going at it. Poor #3 is pinned near one of them. George to the rescue. Now #3 is getting fed. Thank goodness! Now George is trying to straighten up the nest. As an old saying goes: “Another fine time is had by all”.

Well little one turned around finally towards mom but was too far behind the other two so he never got a bite of food. That is hard to watch when it happens…I hope he gets fed next time or I will have to stop watching. Besides the 2 older ones are constantly showing aggression towards one another. 🙁

Little one got a decent feeding this afternoon after the oldest 2 went into food comas. It is tough…little one gets tired of begging and finally poops out before it has a chance to get fed at times. It will get smart though and learn to relax until it’s her turn.

others may have commented on this, but last year one of the chicks died. close to same scenario. 3 eggs, 3 hatch, but the smallest seems ignored. I partially think that as the chicks get bigger it is harder and harder to keep them all fed plus enough for parents. so maybe the littlest is always collateral damage. i don’t know, but it is sad….but this is nature.

This is just nature. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection. The parents are going to feed the most aggressive chicks. The 3rd chick maybe too far behind in development to survive. If there is enough food, he has a chance but odds are not good. I sure hope he survives . There is nothing us humans can do.

Another feeding from same fish at 10:00 a.m. Peanut made his way to the front and center seat! Even when Gracie eventually moved to another part of the nest, he was able to follow her and still get fed. During the earlier feeding, the intruder was circling around. Soon, they all fell asleep, dreaming of fishies.

Around 8:00 a.m., George brought a huge headless fish to the nest. Gracie was able to feed it to the two biggies, but Peanut couldn’t get his share. Looks like she was finally getting to feed him, when she turned around to get more food and the fish was gone! George flew off with breakfast. However, I think they must’ve eaten earlier because the chicks seemed content with just a few bites. Looks like George returned with the fish around 8:45 a.m. and Gracie woke up the little ones to eat a few bites. Still no food for Peanut. Time for another short nap. George flew away, but left the fish behind. However, he returned around 9:25. Looks like he was going to retrieve the fish, but Gracie gently took it from him and started feeding the chicks. The camera jumped around a lot due to the wind, but our little buddy did get a lot of big mouthfuls. GREAT!!

Robin, I should add that much depends on the food supply. This year, George has brought plenty of fish to the nest. I can’t believe how big some of them are! Last year, I did not know about this site until around July 4. I know that there was a shortage of fish, and that probably contributed to the siblings fighting for their meals. Hopefully, our fish supply will continue to flourish.

Hi, Robin, in reply to your question, last year (2015) was the first year that George and Gracie became parents. There were three chicks, but the littlest did not survive due to sibling rivalry. Hopefully, these three babies will grow up. So far, the two older ones seem more intent on bickering with each other. Most of the time, chick #3 is stuck in the middle of the slug fest, but he is not the object of their fight. Let’s hope it stays that way!

Thank you Marlene & CarolV for answering my question. Third chick eats but still looks terribly small (at least in comparison to the other 2) – hope the fish keep coming and all three successfully fledge. I keep telling the baby to eat all he can and hurry up and grow!

Could someone give me an idea as to how to tell the difference between Mom and Dad? I’ve been studying for quite awhile now and one thing I noticed is that one of the parents just love to rearrange the ‘house’ quite a bit.

rjoneal: The reason I did not post anything about George’s “injuries” is because there were none. Although George has been in a few scuffles lately, he did not suffer injuries … the blood on his chest was from an extremely bloody fish that he brought to the nest yesterday at 11:19 am. He then stood next to Gracie as she tore off pieces of it to feed to the chicks, getting more splattered by the second, making him look as if he had been playing paintball.

In fact, if anyone’s curious, I jot notes on MS-Word and this is what I have for 6/12/2016, copied and pasted here:
11:19 am geo back w/ headless fish …
11:20 am gra gets fish and stands to Geo’s left and starts ripping the fish and eating … the chicks are still asleep … this is an extremely bloody fish and geo is getting splattered w/ the blood as Gra tears off pieces
1121 am #1 is up first and moves forward up the slope of the nest bowl to eat … #3 wakes up and stands behind #1 & #2 who then gets up and stands next to #1 … #3 is behind the 2 bigger chicks, but then makes its way up the slope to stand near #2 but then tumbles back & then stands behind them while they get fed, then it faces the wrong way, first sideways to the left then backwards … eventually #3 faces forward but in the back, falling asleep at times …

And, in case anyone has any doubts, watch Leanne’s video “June 12-Breakfast Round 3 And Baby Bit Gets His/Her Share” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZC9v4sjY74) and see George “full frontal” at the 3:50 mark (8:22:56 in the morning, a mere 3 hours before he brought the super bloody fish).

rjonel i to seen the blood stains on George’s chest and just assumed it was the bloody fish he brought to the nest after eating the head like he usually does before bringing it to feed the family…i must have missed his encounter of him being chased or in a battle with intruders am concerned if he will be ok please inform, i have been working alot of hours and missed on video of intruder chase or encounter thank you!

Betsy I am surprised you did not post anything about Georges injuries the other day! Carol IV didn’t make it out either she mentioned changes on Georges chest. Well someone had mentioned they are pretty sure they saw George in flight with 2 other ospreys and he was giving chase. That is was real close to Georges nest and as soon as they got home sure enough George was not on the nest..I got real good picture of cuts and scrapes with blood stains. I did post about yesterday and a couple of people commented they noticed it. Glad to see the sea salt water cleaned his wounds good and you can not even tell.

Everyone: George does not have new speckles on his chest and although he has gone after another osprey over the past couple of days, he does not have wounds. The dots you see on George’s chest are from when he brought an extremely bloody fish to the nest yesterday, June 12th, and was standing next to Gracie as she tore pieces off of it to feed the chicks. If people watched the video stream (and paid attention to what they were watching) and/or read the comments instead of jumping to conclusions, they would have known that – this is how awful rumors (e.g. Gracie’s death last year) get started and perpetuated.

6-13-16 Carol IV remember after baby 2 was born we notice babyone has 1 black dot on the back of his head and baby 2s head 2 black dots on the back of his head that’s how I’ve been telling them apart. Also if you can see them together you can see one is a little bit bigger

CarolV: I can tell the chicks apart. In fact I made a video. But apparently OZ is not posting my videos any more. Very annoying since I edit them and don’t just slapdash post them. In fact the ridiculous video that I made to show Paul or Aidan how the video stream, on June 10th, was jumping back in time and repeating was viewed more times than my other videos. And, OZ didn’t even acknowledge, for the viewers at least, with a “Yes, we’re aware of the problem. We’re sorry. We’re trying to figure out why that happened.” or “No, we weren’t aware of the problem. Thank you for alerting us. We’ll try to figure out why that happened. Thank you.”

Betsy, from what I understand, and Paul or Aidan correct me if I’m wrong (or just delete this message) video’s can be posted provided they are edited in a way that the copyright and sponsorship information is not edited out.

6-12-16 at 20:28 the most adorable moment priceless!! Gracie has all 3 babies neatly tucked down under with all that extreme wind blowing and Geo is standing facing the camera Gracie lays her head down on Geos foot and leans against him. Geo is on guard looking around making sure everything is safe before her goes off to bed. Its already getting pretty dark. I did get a couple of pictures how precious they look.

Hi, Rjoneal..I noticed that, too. Like he was supporting her and keeping her company while she held down the chicks. I know we are constantly reminded not to personify animals with emotions, but how can we not? Are people afraid to see love and respect among other species? Doesn’t it make sense that we are not the only ones who can care about others? So thank you again for bringing this out.

7:30pmEDT Gracie has kept the chicks on lock down for a couple of hours now. The wind is really whippin’ thru there. Do you think she does this to keep the chicks from blowing away? I would be worried if she wasn’t on the job!!! At one point, George brought in a fish tail and fed her, but she didn’t unlock the gang. Good momma; good hubby….

6-12-16 I am worried about George looks like he’s been in a fight he has cuts and scrapes all up-and-down his test red blood stains has anyone else noticed this? Comments are a little slow
Not complaining just saying I don’t know if anyone has seen this or if they noticed it ?

About 2:40-2:45pmEDT Toddler time..was all the way down past the TRS black bar and back up to above center of nest..G&G seemed to watch with pride…now we can all worry about them falling overboard. I can’t tell older two apart. Anyone? Which is it? I would assume Uno, but we all know the problem with assuming…..
3:28pm…George brings in BIG headless fish…the wanderer is passed out from exhaustion, so Trey and one sib are in line..Trey seems to be getting a good share…
The wanderer must be dreaming about his big adventure, because he’s “thrashing” in his sleep .Ohoh..he just popped up. Another mouth to feed. At least it looked like Trey had a good bit.
4:44pm…Geo brings back fish…big two are eating while Trey spars with a piece of plastic..comeon, little guy. get with the program !!! We’re all worried about you! You’re not helping !!!! George decided to park across the view, but I don’t think the little guy ate this time…had a wall of sibs to get through right before Geo stepped across…..
.Gracie is plopped across now..no wandering for a while, please !.

Around 10:27 a.m., another slug fest between the older siblings. Poor Peanut was stuck on the side of one of them, and he was getting knocked all over the place. However, he was not the object of the pecks, etc. It’s amazing how long these slug fests last. George brought a headless fish to the nest around 10:50 a.m. There was plenty to go around, but I think Peanut only got one mouthful. ;-( After the other two ate, George flew off with the fish.At 12:25 p.m., he flies back with a headless fish. I don’t think it was the same one as earlier, but not sure. So happy that Peanut had a good feeding this time. Then they all settled down for a siesta. Another fish delivery at 3:20 p.m. Peanuts is getting fed again. I notice that some chickies are starting to get adventurous in the nest.

I think the biggest difference between this year and last year so far is George. He’s been bringing in a fish about every two hours. Sometimes with the heads on. The chicks are almost tired of eating so much. But it seems to be holding down on the pecking and fighting and PeeWee II fell into a food coma at 12:30 on Sunday. Way to go, George!

12:36 George has been bringing in a steady stream of fish today. Little Guy didn’t get any food last feeding but seems to be getting his fair share now. Nice to see no bonking going on. All three siblings are getting along well this year – fingers crossed !

12:25pmEDT George back in with fish,guess the same one he had 1/2hr ago. Waste not, want not. A fish in the claw is worth 10 in the ocean. Anyhow, back to feeding time.
Trey is up front, but he doesn’t have the reach of the sibs. Good luck, little guy !!!!

Hi Nature lovers, I watched the interactions for two years now and only posted a few times last year. But I am a silent osprey watcher (lol) ( I a m sure there are others like me) …. But here are my observation: What is absolutely lovely this year is George and Gracie’s interaction with each other. There seems to be more love, patience, working together and feeding each other. They are a bit older now and they really do love each other. They live to be 25 years old. When Gracie was tired from laying eggs, George was there for her. George continually builds up the nest and fishing up a variety.
What I have noticed is that this baby crop of osprey-adees seem different from last (well of course —they are different souls) 1 and and 2 are sparring (or fighting, possibly seeing each other as a threat) and they are not pecking peewee (so far) as much and as soon as last year. Peewee has a strategy this year it seems even tho today 1 (or 2) noticed peewee at 7:17 today.. ugh! (so we’ll see and can hope). I even noticed yesterday peewee pecking on food on the nest. Seems like a testament to peewees’s strength! I also think that Gracie and George have figured out ways to feed creatively. Grace is even working faster at divvying out to each one in ways she did not last year and G and G are working together in feeding… how absolutely lovely to watch!
I am happy so far with this year. Not sure how it will all turn out. I also hope that peewee gets enough food and attention this week so that she/he can be bigger like the siblings are– this week (he/she is only a week younger really (my approximate sightings: June 3 5:23 p.m. 1st one hatched, June 5 the second one at 5:17 a.m., June 8 6:35 a.m. baby 3 hatched) So this could be a wonderful year for the family and many blessing to them, the neighbors around the nest (like Barry Root) and to all watching.
I sometimes wonder how the other G and G’s offspring– Sandy from Ronnie from last year are fairing… where they are.
(Thanks Paul… I really think that grocery tote is wonderful!) Thanks for the clock counter this year… good addition!

Osprey are not rocket scientists although many commentators on this site seem to give them credit when it is not due. They do a pretty good job (as nature intended) but their nest building is quite sloppy compared to other raptors and they often pay the price for this with plastic bags, fishing line, rope, and other dangerous materials that I rarely see owls, eagles, falcons, etc. use which often leads to big problems (you all remember last year’s rescue, I’m sure). As to the little guy making it, that is still very much up for grabs and will almost exclusively depend on a constant food supply which could end at any time and successfully dealing with intruders which also could be catastrophic at any time. These are the vagaries of the wild and folks should take them for what they are. To personalize too much can only lead to bitter disappointment when things don’t go exactly according to OUR plans which have little to do with nature’s plans. I always keep my hopes up but am never shocked at something bad happening. Regards to all.

4:44amEDT 6/12 George stopped in for a head count and went off to do his duty.
5:01am First fish of the day. Whole fish to start with. Sleepy kids not quite awake yet, so Gracie has a chance to grab a bite. This feeding was short. Trey a bit unfocused. Spent more time turning around and facing in the wrong direction. George came back about 5:28 to take the fish, but circled and came back to the nest. He dined in and,after a brief nap, Gracie asked for seconds, which he fed to her
2nd chick feeding started. About 5:53. Trey scooched toward the front and benefited while Uno and Dos had a pushing contest. He had several pieces from the delicious tail section before he became the filling of a sib sandwich.

George, the hero dad , back with another fish @7:11am..Again the whole fish. The chicks are recognizing Mom’s excitement and flapping (sort of), in a hurry to get up.And the cycle starts again.

7:17am…uh, oh…Trey facing off with bigger chick..Big guy tried the chest shove, hold down and Trey pecked back and “yelled”in his face. The big guy remembered it was feeding time and scooted back around toward Gracie.

I think I am going to start calling PeeWee2 Spunky.
I watched him peck at chick #1 at feeding time and he was front and center- literally- for food.
We may have a happy family of 5 this year- this kid has got guts!

7:22pmEDT Checked in mid feeding. It’s good to see Trey is getting stronger and better able to get some bigger chunks down. Gracie is a good mom, making the effort to go around the other two to feed him.Good thoughts going out to the little guy.

6:17pm Why aren’t any new comments coming up? I’ve made at least three comments since yesterday afternoon but I still don’t see them on here. I haven’t written anything controversial, I don’t think. lol At any rate, the little ‘guy’ seems to be feeding well. I’ve seen him get himself in front of the pack so that he can eat. He’s a feisty little guy! 🙂

Don’t take it personally…our moderator(s) are volunteers and need a day off sometimes. Occasionally remarks get lost; it’s happened to several others, me included. And , like you, I wondered what I said to offend !! Apparently, there are huge amounts of spam to reject, and all the comments from us chatty people to get in order.

I would love to know how one of the sticks toward the back of the nest was positioned before it started dancing around. At 12:22 pm one end of the stick blew upward, so that the stick was in a slanted upright position in front of the camera on the right side of the view. Then, when Gracie got up to stretch and poop, a few minutes before 2 pm, she knocked the stick over. For the next almost 50 minutes, it would rock up in front of the camera and then back down with the wind, eventually remaining in almost the same position it was in when it first blew upward. At 2:48 pm, after Gracie “helped” George move a long stick (that he had brought at 12:25 pm, and had left toward the left front side of the nest) to the right side of the nest, she then backed up toward the camera; first her tail feathers knocked into the stick so it fell forward and then her left wing got caught on the top end of the stick. As she moved toward the left side of the nest to pick up a stray piece of fish lying on the nest, she ended up pushing the stick, still upright, to the left, where it ended up rocking to and fro with the wind. George meanwhile, had found another stray piece of fish, and after eating some of it, he started feeding chick #1. Gracie took the little bit of fish from George and fed the chicks – well, #1 and #2, since the little one was behind them. Meanwhile, the stick blew over at 2:51 pm – and I think out of the nest. (And this time the stick disappearing and reappearing wasn’t from a video stream time warp! 😀 )

As much as chick #1 has instigated the fights so far today, I feel bad for it … So far I’ve seen Gracie hit it right across the back when she landed on the nest (see video below of the little guy getting fed); then it got its back end stepped on when George was tidying, just before 11 am; then landed on by Gracie when she hopped down from the perch to the nest at 11:29 am!!

I love how Gracie takes care of Lil Bit whiledad feeds 1 & 2. As long as there is enough food Lil Bit has an excellent chance of survival. I hope nature is cooperative. No matter what, though, George & Gracie are excellent parents. Hope we don’t have fishing line issues, but as long as people don’t dispose of trash properly, this will continue being an issue.

Two older chicks were either fighting or playing. Going at each other with their beaks..Disturbing if they were fighting……this lasted quite awhile. Hope pee wee 2 can hold his own if they start picking on him.

Hi. We are big fans of G&G. In fact, we have, in our yard Petronella and Larry Bird. for the second year. Last year their mating was not successful. By this time they had (sadly) vacated their exuberant nest (other than to stop by for some sushi, from time to time). Anyway everything going on with G&G, is going on here. Dad coming and going, a steady supply of fish. We cant see the chicks yet, but we feel they are there.

We have a question: The pole is 50 feet from our back door. They sqwack at us when we open the door. we’ve been staying out of the yard, almost 100%. But the BBQ season is starting, and we want to know from some experts. is it ok to use the patio? we dont want to spook them, as i said at the start, we’re big on osprey. Any advice? Thanx. Barry

Not an expert, Barry, but that is an active household below G&G’s nest. They use their deck and the beach. Sometimes, you can hear other activity, like garbage trucks, leaf blowers and ice cream trucks.Other nests in our area are on corners of busy intersections, over a supermarket parking lot,on bridges, and the Sandpoint, Idaho, nestcam is above a baseball field. Is the nest post high by your yard? Hopefully, someone who knows more than I will answer you and give a more definitive answer.

Method to their madness…
It was really painful to watch this morning as the others were fed the skinny flounder and PeeWee2 was ignored. George was feeding the babies along with feeding Gracie and fighting off intruders all at the same time. When the older two had full crops, Gracie moved in and specifically fed PW2. Even though #2 Chick was up and begging, she would fake him out by putting a piece of fish in his beak, then take it out and give it to PW2. I watched PW2’s crop get full and now he is passed out. I think they figured out how to stop the attacking of the smallest chick. I hope so. Lots of intruder action today. George may have to chase them over the the fields again. I think George, hands down, wins the Most Improved Osprey this year!
Lots of rough weather ahead. But the fish are running and plentiful. That is a blessing. And Gracie has perfected the Mombrella to protect the babies.

Wow! Looks like fishing is good this morning. George brought a flounder/fluke to the nest around 6:03 and then again around 7:45. Peanut ate a few bites at earlier feeding. Hope that he gets more with the second flounder/fluke. Sure enough, around 8:30 Gracie starts talking to George, who is feeding the other two, to tell him that baby needs to be fed, so he breaks off pieces which Gracie gives to Peanut. He has a very good feeding. Yaaaah!! At 8:48 she leaves for a little exercise and returns with a big twig. Here we go again with home improvements. Around 10:02, there is a second feeding session for the rest of the second fish. Peanut is able to get himself to the head of the table, and gets more food. Then, they all pass out after filling their tummies with sushi. That intruder has been around occasionally this morning. Hope everyone watching has a great day!

Pee wee II didn’t get much on the first two feedings this morning but the 10:00 am EST it was up front and center to get something and he did, thank goodness. It rolled onto it’s back trying to get in there for the food I wasn’t sure it would make it back up but it did. I’m so glad to see him get something this morning.

The two bigger chicks had another fight around 7:08 a.m., which lasted about five minutes. The peanut was stuck in between them. Luckily, they did not bite him. I can’t believe how much they are fighting. I don’t remember this happening last year when they were so little. But, then again, I did not start watching OZ until around July 4. Wondering if this behavior is normal. Thanks goodness they are not harming the little guy. But, hoping they are hurting each other seriously also. Looks like a gorgeous day, but it’s not going to stay that way, unfortunately.

6:02amEDT 6/11 George brought a nice sized whole fish in to Gracie. She took control of the fish and started feeding. Of course, Uno and Dos were the main recipients. After a bit, she walked over to start picking up dropped bits and was making an effort to get it in to Trey. She started chirping quietly; George came in and started taking apart the fish and handing over pieces. Gracie continued feeding and eating til 6:35. Trey got several pieces, one really big piece I thought he would drop it, but it looked like it went down. Since he is about 72-73 hrs. younger than Dos and another 36 hrs, behind Uno, he has some catching up to do, but he obviously isn’t going to need the amount of food yet that the other two are putting away.
Gracie is making the effort to assure he is getting fed. It’s beautiful to see her walk around and single Trey out. The other two are usually well fed by that point.Fingers crossed. As long as the other two concentrate on sparring with each other and not ganging upon him, Trey should be alright, as long as the food supply is there.
It’s a beautiful morning in Ospreyland.The chicks downstairs are chirping and birdsong in the air as the sun comes up. The water is calm, the wind not too strong.
And the big two are beating each other up.Trey is jammed between them but they aren’t going after him.
About 7:18, the daily Pest must be flying over. George yells at him.

Glad to see little weebles is eating ok. Justn ot sure little guy gonna be strong enough to fend off the two bullies, hope he gets through the weekend, gets that much stronger. Love this site, these two are funny to watch and the kids make it cuter. Thanks

To the newbies who think that #3 (I call him Peanut) is not getting enough food — I saw him eating a few times today. The other chicks were weak, the same way he is, when they were the same age (only two days old). I can see the difference in them, strength-wise, and there is enough food for the three babes, so hopefully he will keep growing. I’m really so glad that he’s gotten his share of food. It’s amazing how they grow so quickly.
Around 5:43 p.m., George brought in another huge fork-shaped branch. Those parents are so comical, carrying it all around the nest. Then, around 6:35 p.m., the older two chicks had another fight. Peanut was underneath, in between them, but he wasn’t involved in the fight. There was no food to fight over. I think #1 started it, but could not be sure because they were both in the nest bowl. Gracie was just watching them. Wondering what she was thinking . . . sibling rivalry.

8:25pmEDT George is back with another fish,,last one was small..I don’t know if he ever got any..He got the head off this…definitely different kind of fish…No guessing from ME..never right…Gracie takes it and starts sharing it out…

Trey is killing time turning a circle, waiting for the big bozo sibs(said with affection) to get their fill….Gracie is handing out big pieces..one chick was wearing guts for a hat…Trey fell asleep holding piece too big to swallow..Gracie took i while cleaning……Herding them under her is becoming a job…at least Trey has an advantage there !

No..just young. Every hour, let alone day, seem to count on the “learning to eat” curve.Chicks were born 6/3, 6/5t. and 6/8 am. Has a lot of catching up to do; one bonus is the other two are busy beating up on each other, giving him a break for now….

7:37pmEDT George turns over whole fish to Gracie. While she’s opening the fish, Uno & Dos are busy trying to pin each other…..Some good wrestling moves…
Gracie fed them for a good 10 mins., making sure she plugged several good pieces in to Trey.

I love George and Gracie but I dont know why every time they have babies they are so aggressive. Other Osprey families usually only fight over food and it usually one takes 1 or 2 feedings for the babies to realize the pecking order of food. Once they wait their turn for food no fighting. Well last year Ronnie and Sandy fought but only over food. Now Baby 1 and 2 are fighting and it is not even over food this has happened alot today and for pretty long periods of fighting. I also dont like watching lil guy so I will be just ck in once in awhile until things calm down at the nest. I think even if lil guy survives he is eventually going to get beat up by baby 1 so its just a matter of time. This is of course if he didnt get trampled to death after baby 1 and 2s last fight lil guy was under them. Just dont understand why George and Gracies babies always have issues. This time is not even because of food. So keep the comments going and I will be tuning in a couple times a day probably during feedings. God be with our family and to all who are OZ followers!

4:43pmEDT Good Lord, George…someone in the neighborhood may be missing a tree!!!!!!!!! All kidding aside, that was a LARGE branch that was passed around by G&G, over the chicks, till even I was holding my breath !The stream was jumpy, so it was hard to see how it came in. Gracie was “helping” him and I held my breathe a few times as it hovered over or fell on the chicks…It wound up on the far side of the nest and looks less scary there….Gracie has her back to us now, blocking the view……

I hope this is not like last year in which case chick#3/ pee wee is living on borrowed time. It was brutal to watch last year as the 2 bigger older chicks eventually killed #3. Nature can be so cruel. Lets hope George and Gracie are better at catching fish and better parents the second time around

The little guy is not getting as much food as the other two. But, looking at the last feeding today (approx. 1pm), sometimes he just does not grab the food off Gracie’s beak. Well, he just doesn’t know how to take it off her beak. But, even so, he just doesn’t get as much. I’ll be praying for the little guy. The other two had a bit of a tussle today.

1st chick hatched: 6/3/2016 between 2:42 pm and 5:23 pm, when first seen
2nd chick hatched: 6/5/2016 somewhere before 4:58 am, when first seen
3rd chick hatched: 6/8/2016 at 6:17 am
Meaning the third chick hatched more than 4 1/2 days after chick #1 and a little more than 3 days after chick #2. Considering that they are almost adult size by 5 weeks, I would have to say, as I’m sure most everyone else on this site will agree, that this gave it a major major disadvantage. He seems to be a little fighter and I am, as I’m certain most everyone else here is, rooting for it to overcome what disadvantages and unfairness in life it was dealt.

Hi Paul or Aidan: This is what was happening all day long yesterday. I don’t know if it happened today before this time — I was out late this morning and when I came back, I scrolled back and was more focused on watching when the chicks were fed and more concerned with seeing if #3 was getting food, so that I wasn’t paying attention to the time stamp. Only after I saw George fly off, return to the perch and jump down to the nest and then doing it all again did I notice that the time had gone back to the same point and the video was repeating.(And, yes, what I’ve seen so far, after the morning’s first feeding when #3 was ignored [this is what I wrote in my notes: Then she fed the two bigger chicks, with #2 (it has the black spot on the back of its head and wider center stripe on the top of its head) getting the bulk of the feeding, and ignored #3, who was crying to be fed – painful to watch and breaking my heart – and who had been shunted to the back by the two larger chicks while Gracie took forever before she was able to rip a piece out of the fish (the fish seemed really tough to tear into). Gracie cleaned up the nest bowl and then sat on the chicks.])

Oops. Just noticed I didn’t finish my sentence … And, yes, what I’ve seen so far, after the morning’s first feeding when #3 was ignored, there have been several more feedings with Gracie making a strong effort to feed #3.

He waits and waits to be fed and then gives up. The only time he gets any food is when Gracie makes it a point to come nearer to him. I don’t understand why she doesn’t feed them from the other side so that chick #3 can be in the front. Oh well, I’m asking too much. At least he is getting some food.

I think something may be wrong with Mom right now..she has her head down…do Ospreys sleep like this during the day???(Someone said in another comment that she swallowed a hook yesterday)…sorry to bother you,but you were the first post I see so I replied…I also saw the little one eat today(this morning)

2:11pmEDT George expends as much energy carting around his fish til done as if he were fishing for a new one each time ! Good Daddy & Hubby….General food fest..George feeding Gracie, George feeding front chicks, Gracie feeding Trey in back of trio…system that works !

Unfortunately, they don’t know when, or even if, there will be another fish. I vote that we all stand at the base of the tower the nest is built on and toss up fresh fish into the nest!! (Of course, don’t stand next to me while we’re fishing for the fish … I’m likely to get the hook in your head!!) 😀

I would keep an eye on Gracie for a fed days.
I think she may have eaten a fish hook. Looked like it anyway. That was about 15 minutes ago give. George may have gotten some line as well.
They will probably get it back out, but just in case.
I have seen this before and everything was alright in that case.

I didn’t see that it got any food? I watched 2 feedings. Gracie tried once but it was unsuccessful. Also watched a later feeding and then again no food for pee wee II. I feel again we will loose another.

I don;t think there is someone monitoring this 24/7. Paul was looking into a sort of chat scroll but that will also need to be monitored. Those of us that have been here from the first broadcasts learn to be patient.

wow Paul – these people have dedicated themselves to creating and maintaining this site which gives us great pleasure and an insight into the beauty and also the heartbreak of nature which many of us would never have had but for these good people. We are so grateful to them –

They are great parents because they are doing everything to ensure that two chicks will survive to fledge again this year. Which is what survival of the species is all about. However. # 3 is getting weak and seems incapable of feeding even when offered at times. Similar pattern to last year, without the bullying so far.

Around 11:29 a.m., #1 started a fight with #2. It lasted for about three minutes! #3 was battened down in the nest, for which I was glad. Can’t believe how aggressive that first chick was. Then, when it was just about over, he went to bite Gracie’s talon! Someone needs to teach him respect for his parents. Hope #2 is okay after that fight. There seemed to be enough food to go around prior to that episode.

Wildlife needs to get #1 out of the nest and hand raise. This is going to be a repeat of last year only it will be second hatchling this time.i I don’t think viewers will put up with the massacre this time.

Marlene: It was awful to watch! (Here’s what I wrote in my notes: The two oldest chicks woke up and a major pecking battle started between #1 and #2, #1 starting the fight (at 11:28:54) and #2 giving back as much as it got, the fight lasting over a minute and somewhere in the video stream jump gap of 11:30:03 and 11:30:14, both chicks conking out. Then it resumed at 11:31:02 when they woke up as Gracie went to the nest bowl, lasting until 11:32:04, when it stopped as suddenly as it started. #3 was, mercifully, asleep and did not get pecked.)

12:47pmEDT Gorgeous George in with a new headless fish and Gracie barely interested, so he’s feeding her…when she stands up, the pop-ups start wiggling..and waving…watching dad feed mom…one kid struggling to get out of the cup…TOO CUTE !!!!!…but no go yet…Trey staying low while 1&2 beg…

Betsy, thanks for posting the video with the big branch that George brought in. That was sooo funny. I was laughing out loud. Sometimes they are so comical. I had read the other day about this incident and how viewers were amazed and thankful that they did not step on the chicks or drop the branch on them, so I knew it was a happy outcome. They bring such smiles to my face. I wonder what they would think (but I don’t think it’s possible for them to be that intelligent) if they knew they had thousands of observers watching their every move and rooting for them.

Perfect opportunity for #3 to have a bounty of food, as #s 1 and 2 lost interest (11:18 AM). But it either a) didn’t open its beak, b) dropped the food or c) turned away (maybe couldn’t move from the weight of siblings?).

Trey popped up and Gracie made sure he got some..third popped up but wasn’t as hungry…11:29am sparring match between Uno and Dos..Trey lying low…went on for several minutes..one even went for Gracie’s toe as she stood over them..someone flicked a switch and they fell asleep…boom..

10:24 am. Enjoyed watching the latest feeding. One of the older chicks was sleeping. Gracie went back & forth from the other older chick to the little one. That little one got his/her fair share of the fish. 🙂

9:56am,,George back with fish…same from earlier? Chicks are still asleep, so when Gracie takes fish, she feeds George a little. Two chicks wake up (? and Trey) Little guy is right in there.Even when third chick wakes up and pops head in, Trey stayed in front of group and had more……went over backwards at one point(looked like fell not pushed) but he’s fine…
10:13..clean-up finished and lock down commences….

10:28am Pest is back overhead..persistent this a.m. …One afternoon recently,.I watched Verizon Vic (Cutchogue) jump from his post, fly across that field, a parking lot, a road and well across a vineyard chasing an intruder awayfrom his nest…He don’t play !!!!! Too bad we miss George in beast mode….

Carol,
I was out there yesterday – about a block away from the nest – and there were three ospreys in a fierce air battle. I think George was taking them both on. He was flying and diving after them all while making his warning screech. When I got home and checked the video stream, sure enough, George was not at the nest when I saw this, so it had to be him. It was too close to his nest not to be.

Guess I’ll have to tune out for awhile. I can’t handle a repeat of last year, with the weaker chick being beat up and not fed.I have been watching an owl cam. They had 7 owlets. Between the Dad and Mom all 7 were fed and all survived. I’ll tune in about a week to see if things have improved.

8:40amEDTish..went back to watch feeding…could watch over and over.one poor chick was turned around at one point and begging from George (off to right on rim) Once he got the right direction, he got his share. Gracie is very patient and shared all around, then cleaned up.

June 10 8:50 a.m. (EST) George brought a fish at about &:1 . Baby 3 was in front other 2 facing Gracie so I thought it would stand chance of getting fed. But for some reason it moved behind the other 2 so again Gracie fed the other 2 and I did not see her give one piece of food to Baby 3. Not even when she went into the nest bowl she fed the scrapes to the other 2,
There is plenty of food yet Baby 3 is not getting fed. Poor thing is begging and struggling to get fed. We know for last year when food was scarce that it was Gracie’s responsibility to fed the first ones born so Pee-Wee being the youngest was ignored. Survival of the fittest as we all had to accept. But this is not the case now -it just seems that because Baby 3 can’t get his head up there with the other 2 it is out of luck.
I began watching this site last year after the Newsday article when it was obvious that Pee-Wee was definitely not going to make it. I stopped watching for a few days because I just couldn’t bear to watch what was happening. I hope this is not a repeat of last year.
The good news is a stick was placed over that piece of plastic that was so annoying yesterday. It amazes me how they are so aware of some situations and fix it. I have noticed George who has brought in some huge branches did again put one in the area of that wad of fishing line. Hope it stays there.
Praying that Baby 3 can hold out and while it gets bigger it can make itself more able to get food.